what is a banksman?
As a banksman, you direct vehicle movements on a construction or work site. For instance, you ensure large cranes move to the loading and unloading areas without causing accidents or unnecessary traffic. You are the eyes of the truck or crane driver and help them make safe manoeuvres around the work area. You communicate to them using hand signals or radio links to inform them the best time to turn since their visibility maybe be obscured. The driver must understand your signals to avoid making wrong turns.
Your role as a banksman is crucial in busy construction sites and warehouses since the uncontrolled movement of vehicles can lead to costly damages and accidents. For instance, in building sites with large equipment, diggers, trucks and cranes, a banksman takes control of the vehicle operations and creates order.
what does a banksman do?
As a banksman, you need to collaborate and sync with other team members to ensure safety and smooth operations. Precision and accuracy are also vital for relaying accurate instructions to the driver. Uncertainty can cause accidents and equipment damage.
Would working as a banksman suit your communication and attention to detail? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a banksman role.
average salary of a banksman
According to ONS, a banksman in the UK earns an average salary of £31,200 per year or £16 per hour. When you join the profession, your earnings begin at £29,250 annually. With some experience on the job, you can make up to £35,100 per year. You have various opportunities to increase your earnings through overtime hours and extra shifts. Some employers also provide additional perks like medical allowances, paid vacation days and yearly bonuses.
how to increase your salary as a banksman
As a banksman, your earnings depend on your employer and experience level. At the beginning of your career, you have a few transferable skills and hands-on experience on the job. Hence, your compensation package is low, but the salary increases as you gain experience or acquire additional qualifications. You can improve your skills through short courses and career development training. The scope of your role also impacts your salary. For instance, your compensation package should cover additional duties like loading and unloading. Some industries also pay more than other sectors. You are likely to earn a better salary working in construction sites compared to warehouses or loading docks.
types of banksmen
Banksmen can direct different types of transport modes in various industries. Some of the types of banksmen include:
- signallers: a banksman can assist lift and crane operators in directing the cranes using signals. You use hand signals and various communication channels to help crane operators maintain safety requirements when lifting loads.
- vehicle banksman: as a vehicle banksman, you are trained to control vehicle movements within work premises. You direct vehicles to reduce traffic in some areas and ensure seamless movements. You also design the paths vehicles will use in a facility to ensure on-site workers are safe.
- railway banksman: your job is to monitor the train schedule to check for any delays. You also communicate with other control centres to ease train movement on various routes.
working as a banksman
A banksman has an important role in preventing workplace accidents. Let's explore the daily duties of banksmen and their work schedule.
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banksman job description
As a banksman, some of your duties include:
- directing vehicle movement: your job is to direct vehicles and ensure they don't cause accidents at the work areas. You use hand signals and communication devices to assist operatives and drivers in their manoeuvres. For instance, when a driver reverses or turns, you signal them at the right time to stop and keep moving. Besides guiding cranes and trucks on the site, you also ensure heavy vehicles safely exit the premises by controlling their movements on the main road.
- identifying unsafe areas: a banksman should recognise trouble spots in construction areas that could lead to accidents. You also remove obstacles and clutter from the pathways to avoid damages to vehicles or equipment during manoeuvres.
- managing traffic: as a banksman, you control the traffic flow within a work area. Therefore, you guide the drivers on the site's designated spots for their trucks. Your traffic management system should ensure the entrances and exits aren't blocked by other trucks. Large vehicles should also have adequate space to exit the site or move to the loading areas. You have to design and layout the roadways for specific vehicles to ensure smooth workflow.
- assisting in loading and unloading duties: a banksman usually collaborates with other workers in loading and offloading duties. Sometimes, you operate the loading machinery to minimise the snarl-ups caused by delayed loading.
- ensuring the signalling equipment is in good working order: as a banksman, you should regularly test the radio equipment and other communication devices to ensure they are working as expected. A driver cannot hear you in a noisy work environment and without a communication channel, giving directions is difficult.
- training drivers on hand signals: it is important to ensure drivers understand your hand signals to avoid miscommunication. You can meet with new drivers to discuss the signals and communication methods used to direct traffic.
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work environment
As a banksman, you will work in factories, loading and unloading docks and construction sites. The vehicles common in such environments include trucks, cranes, lorries, cement mixers and bulldozers. You primarily work outdoors in all weather conditions, and you need the appropriate clothing and safety equipment for your job. Most banksmen wear high-visibility jackets that drivers can see during the day and night. Your work setting is noisy, primarily if you work on a building site. That is why you need to have radio communication devices to notify the loading team when a truck arrives and direct the drivers. Your role also involves keeping the work environment clean and ensuring seamless workflow.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on the industry, your colleagues will likely include signallers, riggers, material handlers and warehouse operatives. Riggers attach loads to cranes while warehouse operatives assist with loading and offloading. You could also work with construction managers, truck drivers and other specialists, including workers like heavy equipment operators, excavator operator, ground workers, civil engineers and project managers.
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work schedule
As a banksman, your work schedule varies depending on your employer and the employment terms. For instance, construction sites usually have late evening or early morning deliveries when few workers are on site. That means you will have early starts and late finishes. On the other hand, warehouses are busy during the day, and you complete most of your tasks during the day. When you work on a full-time schedule, your job takes 35 to 40 hours a week and includes weekends and evenings when the workload demands. Part-time and short-term contracts are also available for banksmen.
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job outlook
A banksman can explore various career opportunities related to the role. Focusing on a specific mode of transport improves your skills in the area and gives you better career prospects. For instance, you could become a rail signaller or an aircraft marshall. Instead of specialising in signalling roles, improve your skills and progress to other roles in your industry. You can become the lead supervisor for a work site or site manager.
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advantages of finding a banksman job through randstad
Finding your banksman job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a banksman is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education and skills
Joining a banksman career doesn't require formal training, but an intermediate apprenticeship is a great start. An apprenticeship in a construction firm helps you familiarise yourself with the work environment. You can also take short courses in safe working practices around construction plant equipment and health and safety training to improve your skills. The courses cover guided vehicle movements using signals and strategies for manoeuvres in confined spaces.
skills and competencies
A banksman needs the following skills to succeed:
- attention to detail: as a banksman, you need to be detail-oriented to help drivers make difficult manoeuvres within a work site. Pay attention to the size and structure of vehicles before providing hand signals to direct their movements. If the driver has a hard time turning a truck due to its weight, you should find the best direction for the vehicle to avoid overturning.
- communication skills: a banksman should be an exceptional communicator to provide clear and effective instructions. Unclear communications can cause misunderstandings and accidents on the site. Expertise in hand signal communication also comes in handy when you are a banksman.
- interpersonal skills: as a banksman, you collaborate with drivers for effective vehicle movement. Interpersonal skills help you work in a team during busy schedules to ensure the traffic is under control.
- knowledge of safety procedures: you need to be aware of on-site safety procedures and make sure workers adhere to them. Sometimes, you have to train other workers on the health and safety guidelines to avoid accidents and injury.
FAQs
FAQs about working as a banksman
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what is the role of a banksman?
A banksman is responsible for safety in work sites by controlling vehicle movements to prevent accidents and traffic snarl-ups. You use hand signals and communication devices to help drivers.
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why is it called banksman?
The word comes from 'bank in a sense', which refers to the area surrounding a pit's mouth on a shaft.
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what is a banksman signaller?
If you combine a banksman role with signalling cranes and lifts, you become a banksman signaller. A banksman who directs traffic is a traffic marshall.
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do you have to be trained to be a banksman?
You don't need post-secondary training for the job, but short courses on worksite safety boost your career prospects.
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what is the difference between a banksman and a flagman?
A banksman directs large vehicles away from the road into a worksite. A flagman signals cars to stop or move slowly as road construction work continues.
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how do I apply for a banksman vacancy?
Applying for a banksman job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
